Meitheal Mhaigheo Teo.

National Museum of Ireland, Country Life

Turas na mBan Conference

21^st -22^nd April, 2006,

Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo

A Conference  - Turas na mBan - is to be held in the Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo on Friday, April 21^st and Saturday, April 22^nd, 2006.

The Conference is being co-hosted by Meitheal Mhaigheo Teo, a Partnership Company involved in all aspects of community development in the county, and The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

The idea for the conference came about as a result of a folklore-collecting project initiated by Meitheal Mhaigheo in the Clew Bay area.  The theme of the conference is, Turas na mBan, or Women’s Journey, and the content will be quite wide ranging to include contributions from the following:

·       Sr. Hilary Lyons, a native of Louisburgh, Co. Mayo.  Sr. Hilary spent her working life as a medical doctor in Sierra Leone and returned to live in Ireland some years ago.

·       Sarah Murphy, Research Officer, Women’s Education Research and Resource Centre, University College, Dublin

·       Tom Munnelly, Collector and Archivist, Department of Irish Folklore, U.C.D. 

·       Dr. Mary O’Dowd, Professor, Department of Modern History, the Queen’s University, Belfast.

·       Dr. Anne O’Connor, Advisor to the Director General, RTE and Folklorist. 

·       Dr. Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, Professor, Department of Irish Folklore, U.C.D.

·       Susan Mc Kay, Journalist.

·       David Fanagan, Director, Fanagan’s Funeral Directors, Dublin.

The event will also include a series of workshops, winetasting and music sessions to take place over the two days, in addition to a welcoming reception at the National Museum, Turlough Park and a conference dinner.

Further information, including booking details, is available on request

                                Please send enquiries to turasnamban@eircom.net